It typically occurs in teenagers, but you can get it at any age. Many people develop EBV infections as children after age 1. Any child who gets EBV will probably be immune to mono for the rest of their life.
For this reason, mono affects mainly high school and college students. People with mono often have a high fever , swollen lymph glands in the neck and armpits, and a sore throat. Most cases of mono are mild and resolve easily with minimal treatment. The infection is typically not serious and usually goes away on its own in 1 to 2 months. Mono is hard to distinguish from other common viruses such as the flu. The incubation period of the virus is the time between when you contract the infection and when you start to have symptoms.
It lasts for 4 to 6 weeks. The signs and symptoms of mono typically last for 1 to 2 months. Some symptoms, like sore throat and fever, typically lessen after 1 or 2 weeks. Other symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and an enlarged spleen may last a few weeks longer.
Mononucleosis is usually caused by EBV. The virus is spread through direct contact with saliva from the mouth of an infected person or other bodily fluids, such as blood. You can be exposed to the virus by a cough or sneeze, by kissing, or by sharing food or drinks with someone who has mono. In children, the virus typically causes no symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized. After you become infected with EBV, it remains inactive in your body for the rest of your life.
In addition to its connection with mono, experts are looking into possible links between EBV and conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Because EBV sheds in your throat, you can infect someone who comes into contact with your saliva, such as by kissing them or sharing eating utensils. Due to the long incubation period, you may not even be aware you have mono. Mono can continue to be contagious for 3 months or more after you experience the symptoms. Find out more about how long mono is contagious.
Anyone who regularly comes into close contact with large numbers of people is at an increased risk for mono.
This is why high school and college students frequently become infected. Because other, more serious viruses such as hepatitis A can cause symptoms similar to mono, your doctor will work to rule out these possibilities. Age is one of the main factors for diagnosing mono along with the most common symptoms: fever, sore throat, and swollen glands. Your doctor will take your temperature and check the glands in your neck, armpits, and groin.
They might also check the upper left part of your stomach to determine if your spleen is enlarged. Sometimes your doctor will request a complete blood count.
This blood test will help determine how severe your illness is by looking at your levels of various blood cells. For example, a high lymphocyte count often indicates an infection. A mono infection typically causes your body to produce more white blood cells as it tries to defend itself. One of the most reliable ways to diagnose mononucleosis is the monospot test or heterophile test.
This blood test looks for antibodies —these are proteins your immune system produces in response to harmful elements. These are called heterophile antibodies. At this point, you would have sufficient amounts of heterophile antibodies to trigger a reliable positive response. If your monospot test comes back negative, your doctor might order an EBV antibody test. This blood test looks for EBV-specific antibodies.
This test can detect mono as early as the first week you have symptoms, but it takes longer to get the results. However, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid medication to reduce throat and tonsil swelling. Most people get better in two to four weeks; however, some people may feel fatigued for several more weeks. Occasionally, the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis can last for six months or longer.
EBV is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other viruses can cause this disease. Typically, these viruses spread most commonly through bodily fluids, especially saliva. However, these viruses can also spread through blood and semen during sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplantations.
There is no vaccine to protect against infectious mononucleosis. You can help protect yourself by not kissing or sharing drinks, food, or personal items, like toothbrushes, with people who have infectious mononucleosis.
If you have infectious mononucleosis, you should not take penicillin antibiotics like ampicillin or amoxicillin. Based on the severity of the symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend treatment of specific organ systems affected by infectious mononucleosis.
Because your spleen may become enlarged as a result of infectious mononucleosis, you should avoid contact sports until you fully recover. Participating in contact sports can be strenuous and may cause the spleen to rupture. Symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpits, and groin, constant fatigue, sore throat, enlarged spleen, and jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin.
Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes infectious mononucleosis? What are the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis? Symptoms may include: Fever Swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpits, and groin Extreme fatigue Sore throat Enlarged spleen Head and body aches Liver involvement, such as mild liver damage that can cause temporary jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin bile pigmentation in the bloodstream Once a person has had mononucleosis, the virus remains dormant in the throat and blood cells for the rest of that person's life.
How is infectious mononucleosis diagnosed? However, diagnosis can be confirmed with specific blood tests and other lab tests, including: White blood cell count, which is not diagnostic, but the presence of certain types of white blood cells lymphocytes may support the diagnosis Heterophile antibody test or monospot test, which, if positive, indicates infectious mononucleosis How is infectious mononucleosis treated?
Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on: How old you are Your overall health and past health How sick you are How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies How long the condition is expected to last Your opinion and preference Treatment for mononucleosis may include: Rest to give the body's immune system time to destroy the virus Drink plenty of liquids Take over-the-counter medicine as directed for discomfort and fever Corticosteroids only when necessary to reduce swelling of the throat and tonsils What are the complications of infectious mononucleosis?
Complications may include: Ruptured spleen Kidney inflammation Hemolytic anemia Nervous system problems, such as encephalitis, meningitis, and other conditions Inflammation of the heart muscle Heart rhythm problems Obstruction of the upper airways Can infectious mononucleosis be prevented? When should I call my healthcare provider? If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, let your healthcare provider know.
Key points about infectious mononucleosis Infectious mononucleosis is characterized by swollen lymph glands, fever, sore throat, and extreme fatigue Mononucleosis usually lasts for 1 to 2 months.
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